Licensed Teacher Content | October 2006
Tip of the Month
By Ann Christiansen, Nia Trainer
Review the anatomy of the foot. Look at the bones again, and ask yourself “new” questions. Use X-ray technique to see into your feet and set goals for how you want to be feeling in your feet 3 months from now.
Take walks and tune into foot sensation while counting each step like we count bars–let your feet know that they are guardians of Rhythm and Precision.
Freedance with your feet while using the imagery of fairies and angels. Imagine your feet floating you around, barely touching the ground. Get strong on the balls of your feet.
Get familiar with the magnetic force of the Earth by doing a 5 to 15 minute standing meditation in Closed Stance. Keep your mind’s eye on how your bodyweight is distributed across your feet and what your body does to “survive” in the feet.
Learn all the names of Nia’s Base movements and practice the moves with mirrors so you can observe your technique the way your students would look at your feet. If you can, have someone film your foot technique and review it. Sharpen your analytical eye for the X-ray of movement from the base up.